QUEZON CITY -- The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is inspired by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s unwavering effort to address the country’s housing backlog.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said that President Marcos' relentless desire to end the housing gap was evidenced by his recent engagements with stakeholders to tackle the matter directly.

Last Friday, the President inspected the Bagong Sibol Housing Project in Barangay Nangka, Marikina City and discussed the plan to build shelters for 10,000 minimum wage earners and government employees.

The project is among the first under the Marcos administration's flagship Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program.

A day earlier, the Chief Executive also hosted a dinner meeting with Secretary Acuzar, along with other key DHSUD officials, members of his economic team, government financial institutions and top executives of private banks - - apparently to rally support for the program.

"These activities are clear testaments of the President's unwavering effort to help ordinary Filipinos realize their dream of owning decent, affordable homes," Secretary Acuzar said.

"These will definitely boost the program and we are inspired to exert all efforts to achieve our President's goal," he added.

Under the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program, DHSUD is tasked to build 1 million housing units every year in the next six years to address the country’s housing backlog pegged at more than 6.5 million units.

So far, DHSUD has broke ground in seven areas Luzon, including Marikina City and Quezon City in the National Capital Region, Visayas and Mindanao.

During the Marikina City inspection, the President was able to talk with Mayor Marcelino Teodoro and heads of DHSUD key shelter agencies, namely, PagIBIG Fund, the National Housing Authority, Social Housing Finance Corporation, the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation and the Human Settlements Adjudication Commission.

He discussed with Secretary Acuzar and other housing and LGU officials the master plan for the five-hectare housing project site.

President Marcos also took time to check on the ordinary folks lined up to see him near the site.

"On behalf of DHSUD and our KSAs, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the President for his all out support," Secretary Acuzar said. (DHSUD)